Last December, Barney Melekian was eating breakfast in downtown Santa Barbara with retiring Police Chief Lori Luhnow when Luhnow suggested, “Oh, you should think about being the interim chief of police.”
Melekian responded: “I might be interested.”
“The next thing I know I got a call from Paul Casey (city administrator),” Melekian told Noozhawk.
And just like that, Melekian, a professional chameleon of sorts, found himself in his latest role: Santa Barbara’s interim police chief.
“This will be my last law enforcement job,” Melekian said. “I regard the opportunity to do this as a privilege, and I will do it to the best of my ability.”
Most recently, Melekian worked as the assistant county executive officer for Santa Barbara County, but he once was the Pasadena police chief and the Santa Barbara County undersheriff. He was awarded a medal of valor during his 23 years working for the Santa Monica Police Department. In Pasadena, he also served as acting fire chief and interim city manager. He collects a pension from the cities of Pasadena and Santa Monica, but none of the other agencies he has worked for.
He served for four years as the director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services during the Obama administration.
He joins the city amid a national conversation about police violence and brutality against people of color, as well as a rise in activism locally after the killing of George Floyd rocked the nation.
“As we talk about national issues, and issues of inequality and police violence and police brutality, that is a good national discussion to have, but as we drill down to where we live, I think it is important to say what are the issues of that discussion and what issues are relevant to the Santa Barbara Police Department,” Melekian said.
Melekian, 71, said those issues will be vetted and discussed by the newly created Community Formation Commission.
“I am not naive about the areas that need to change and be improved,” Melekian said. “I just want to make sure that what we do here in Santa Barbara is relevant.”
He said police officers in Santa Barbara are well trained and that the use of force is minimal. He referenced Tuesday’s event on State Street when officers subdued a distraught man threatening to hit people with a long, metal object.
“That could have been resolved with lethal force,” Melekian said.
With the challenges that Santa Barbara is facing — increased incidents of aggravated assault, burglary, grand theft auto and homicides — Melekian said that “at least a portion of that is attributable to the economic impact of COVID-19.”
During the transition in December, Melekian said he spoke with senior management about the department.
“I have been struck by the humanity of the people I have met,” Melekian said. “The men and the women of this agency are clearly committed to doing the best they can for this community. The national narrative made some of them feel as though they were under individual assault.”
He said he worked to assure them that the job they do is both “honorable and worthwhile.”
At the county, Melekian developed a reputation as a charmer, eloquent with words, progressive and solutions-minded.
“Melekian is diligent, motivated, fair to friend and foe, reasonable and ethical,” Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor Das Williams said. “I’d be really bummed that he left the county, except that I think he’ll do more for my constituents as police chief.”
Second District Supervisor Gregg Hart praised Melekian as the real deal, who puts the community before anything else.
“There are people in government who are motivated by getting praise, and there are other people who try to make things better without seeking credit,” Hart said. “Barney Melekian has always been a public servant in the best sense because he is 100% committed to doing the right thing all the time. The City of Santa Barbara is very lucky to have him as chief of police. His wide-ranging professional experience, deep knowledge, wisdom, integrity and strong values will serve our community well.”
Melekian will earn the same annual salary as Luhnow — $233,795. Melekian, however, doesn’t plan to stick around for the full year. He envisions serving as interim chief for only six months. Melekian technically will get paid $112.40 an hour, according to Nina Johnson, senior assistant to the city administrator.
“Getting that permanent chief is going to be critically important,” Melekian said, adding that he is focused on helping the city select “the best possible permanent chief.”
Melekian lives in Santa Barbara and doesn’t plan any weekend excursions out of the county. He said he will be “immersed” in the city.
“I live in town, and I will be in town,” Melekian said.
Melekian began his new post on Monday. He said 2020 was one of the most challenging years in the history of law enforcement, so when offered the job, he jumped.
“This was not something I was going to say no to,” Melekian said. “I really do think the residents of Santa Barbara and the visitors of Santa Barbara are really well served by a very professional, very caring group of men and women who work here.”
— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
